Mechanical cement finisher



March 26;' 1940. H. D. JoHNsoN MECHANICAL..v CEHENT FINISHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "Filed Feb. 195s klm.

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March 26, 1940. n.1. JQHNSON 2,194,754

MECHANICAL CEMENT FINISHER Fil ed Feb. 28,y 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c Y a y8 U j o c 9g 137 10 2 Y w 2 104 103 A I I 2 6,3/4 13@ msj HA eey TEMA/50N,

Patented Mar. 26, 1940` PTENT OFFICE I MECHANICAL CEMENT `FINISHER HarryvD. Johnson, Whittier, Calif., as signor of one-half to Clarence G. Schulze, South Pasadena, Calif.

Application February '28, 1938, Serial No. 193.104

7 Claims.- ICl. 94--44) This invention relates to the construction of concrete roads and particularly to means for finishing the surface of the roads.

In the construction of concrete roads it is the l,usual practice to lay the concrete between side forms in strips 10 feet wide. VAfter the proper grade has been obtained by suitable grading machines, a machine termeda paver lays the .V concrete. This machine is followed by a tampving machine which both scrapes and tamps the concrete. The tamping machine is not eiiective to remove long undulating irregularities in the surface and for `this reason the concrete is then subjected to finishing operations. At present the method of iinishing comprises, first, dragging a floatusually a long board approximately 20 feet in length having a handle extending from its mid portion by means of whichthe operator can guide iiilengthwise of the strip of .concrete being finished by means of a mule, the float being disposed at approximately a 45- degree angle to.,

the sides of the strip. Following` this operation floats comprising two or three parallel disposed planks are dragged by hand across the strip being `finished, thus concluding the surface finishing` operation. v v

The method just outlined has many disadvantages in that it requires experienced men in order to obtain even yfairly satisfactory results. i When done by the mosty experienced men obtainable it is still an inaccurate method, since it is too largely dependent upon the yhuman `element and is not eifective to remove undulating irregularities of the surface. Furthermore, this `is a 'slow method of finishing the concrete and reduces the capacity of the paver since it must continually be slowing down in order to allow the finishers to catch up to it. It is also a costly method because it requires several eX- i perienced men and because it scrapes a great deal of 'the concrete off of the strip `being finished, thus Wasting the concrete.

ln view of the disadvantages attendant upon the ordinary method of finishing concrete roads, 'it is a primary object of this invention to provide a mechanical cement finisher which will accurately, quickly, and economically finish the concrete without any of the disadvantages of the ordinary methods.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a `machine of the type indicated which will plane the surface of the concrete Vand work the concrete from side to side of the strip being finished, thus producing a surface 'free of irregularities and at the same time conserving the concrete. In this connection it is also an object of the invention to provide a machine which will function accurately regardless of the density or moisture content of the concrete being 1inished.

n-It is also a particular object of .this'invention to provide a machine of `the type indicated, which is readily adjustable to accommodate the machine to a change in the gradient of the road.

These objects are attained in the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of a preferred form of finishing machine with the truss support partly broken away.` M

Fig. 2 is a vsectional elevation on line 2*--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the adjusting mechanism at one corner of the blade supporting structure on line 3-3 of Fig. r1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary `plan View of a modied form of blade structure.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional `elevation o line 5--5 of Fig. ll.

Fig. 6 is a `fragmentary sectional elevation on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.Y

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line "l-l of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional `elevation `on line `S- of Figi. l l

Fig.`9 is `a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

\ Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a main frame' consisting of side channels II and I2, end channels I3 and I4, `and cross channel members I5, I6, I'I and I8. These Amembers are preferably welded together, and are iurther supported by the triangular plates I9 Welded thereto at each corner of the frame. VSuppor-ting means in the form of plates l23, v24, 25,

' and 26 .are provided, lconnecting the cross channel members I5 and I8 with the channels II and I2. Additional support is giventhe frame by means of a trussstructure 21 over each of the side channels II and I2.

fThe machine is adapted to ride on the side forms 30 and SI enclosing the concrete strip .'32 and accordingly has wheels `33 on the one side` and wheels 34 on the other side. The wheels 33 have ,a flat running surface and are thus adapted to ride either on the side form 3U `or on a finished strip of concrete in the event the side form 30 has been pulled out.Y The wheels 34 are double iianged lin order'to'hold the machine upon the side form 31.- -All the wheels are `similarly mounted on wheel supports 35, which are pivotally mounted at 36 on brackets 3l attached to the frame members i3 and I4. The wheel supports comprise spaced plates 38 and 38 connected at their lower end by axles 39 which extend outwardly beyond the outer plates. The wheels are mounted at the outer end of the axles 39 and are held in proper spaced relation to the plates by means of collars 4G interposed between the wheels and the plates. This construction makes possible the interchangeability of the flanged and non-flanged wheels.

For the purpose of adjusting the. wheel supports 35 the plates 38 and 38 are connected at their upper ends by pins 4i on which are pivotally mounted connecting rods 42. The connecting rods are pivotally mounted at 43 on actuating levers Il which are pivotally mounted at 45 on the frame of the machine. Bolts 45 are threaded into the frame and are positioned underneath the actuating levers dit for the purpose of holding them in an adjusted position.

By referring to the drawings, it should be apparent that the movement of the actuating levers serves to raise or lower the frame through the connecting means 42 and the. pivoted Wheel supports 35. The purpose of this mechanism is to provide means for raising the blade members and roller (which will subsequently be described) as a unit out of engagement with the cementconcrete being Iinished.

-part of opening 55.

'mounted in the center of the frame.

The forward end of the 'machine carries a roller 4B which is mounted in the depending brackets 49 which are vertically slotted at 50 to allow the axle 5l extending through the roller to move vertically with respect to the machine. With this construction the roller rides merely of its own weight on the concrete being nished. The roller serves to work the moisture in the cement-concrete to the surface and also serves to depress or work the stones in the cement-concrete down so that there is no possibility of them interfering with the nishing'operations on the surface of the road.

For the purpose of lifting the roller out of contact with the surface being finished a bar 53 is provided at each end of the roller. The bars each have an eye 54 at their lower end through which the axle 5I extends, and are bent at their upper ends to form a handle portion. Each bar extends up through an irregular opening 55 in the brackets 49. A nut 56 is welded to the bar and is of a size to pass through the larger portion of the irregular opening 55, but suiciently large not to pass through the slotted or smaller Normally the roller engages the surface being worked upon and is in the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the nuts 55 are below the openings 55 in brackets 49. To raise the roller the bars` are pulled up until the nuts are above the openings 55. The bars are then pulled back into the slotted portions of holes 55. 'Ihe nuts rest on the top of the slotted portion and hold the roller in the raised position.

For leveling and iinishing the concrete a plurality of blades or floats are provided, made of mahogany or other suitable material. A central blade adjusting and supporting structure indicated generally by reference numeral 59 is This structure comprises the side channel members 6l and 62 and end channel members 63 and 54. This structure is mounted for vertical adjustment by means of vertically extending bolts threaded on their upper ends and indicated by reference numeral 70. These bolts extend upwardly respectively through apertured brackets 1l. The details of this structure are shown in Fig. 3 where a bracket 'H is shown bolted at 'l2 to channel 66. Channels 65 and 56 connect the cross channel members IS and Il. The bolt 'Hl extends through hole T3 in the bracket and has threaded on its upper end the hand nut 'M By means of the hand nuts 14 and cooperating means the structure 60 may b-e vertically adjusted.

The machine embodies a plurality of blades or floats mounted beneath the frame for finishing the surface of the concrete. A main blade is provided which extends diagonally across the machine forming an acute angle of less than 45 degrees with the side channels and is designated by reference numeral 18. This blade is preferably 2 inches thick and 6 inches wide and has its ends cut to parallel the side forms a short distance inwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. l. It is mounted near its ends by means of the bolt structure, generally indicated at 19 and at 80 and is mounted at its center point by bolt structure indicated by reference numeral 8l which extends upwardly through a diagonal cross plate.

57 in the supporting and adjusting structure 60. These bolt structures together with the bolt structures supporting the other blades (to be later described) are identical and a description of bolt structure 'i9 should be suflicient. This bolt structure 'I9 (see Fig. 2) comprises two upwardly extending bolts 82 mounted on the blade 78. The bolts extend through holes in the plate 25 and have threaded on their upper ends nuts 83 by means of which vertical adjustment of the member may be achieved. The bolts are locked in adjusted position by lock nuts 84.

Mounted beneath the frame are two blades 86 and 8l, each less than half the length of the main blade 78, which, together with blade 18, substantially form an X in plan View. The blade 86 is mounted similarly to blade 18 near its forward end bymeans of the bolt structure 98 and is mounted at its other end on the adjusting structure 60 by bolt structure B9 mounted in plate B1.

lade has its inner end spaced from blade B, leaving the passageway 90 between it and blade 89. The blade 8l extends rearwardly of the blade 18 in alignment with blade 86 and is mounted at its outer end upon the bolt structure 92 and at its inner end'by bolt structure 93 which cooperates with the plate 6l. This blade is also spaced from the blade 'I8 and there is left between the blade I9 and the inner end of blade 81 the space 94 which is similar to space 99.

Mounted at the side of and outwardly from the blades S5 and 'E3 is the blade structure generally indicated by reference numeral 95 which comprises blades 95 and Si which are mounted at their inner ends by the bolt structure 98 cooperating with a bracket 99 on the center supporting structure 62. These blades converge at their inner end and are disposed to form substantially a right angle and are of a length to extend out and slightly beyond the side rail 30. Similar to this structure 95 is a structure 95 mounted on the opposite side of the machine and similar in all respects to it, and for this reason its various parts will bear the numbers given to the structure 95, except for the distinguishing prime mark.

The blades 95 and 97 are mounted near their outer ends by means of a spring and bolt supporting mechanism generally indicated at IUI and HBL These structures Iare ,identical and the i description vof the structure IUI' which' appears in Fig'. 2 will be adequate. The structure comprises an upwardly extending bolt. |03 whichis mounted on the blade and extends upwardly through a hole a `plate IM on the frame. Interposed between this plate andthe blade is a compression spring |05. With this construction the blades 96, 91, 9d and 91 are forced downwardly and are held against the side forms .30

and ,3| on which they ride.`

With this construction it is evident that all of the blades heretofore described, sincev they are mounted at their inner ends on the central supporting structure Bil except blade 1B which is mounted thereon atits center, may be raised or lowered near the central part ofthe machine as desired. This adjustment is necessary for change f in gradient of the road being finished as will subsequently be explained. The various bolt structures supporting'the blades enable an operator to adjust the bladesso that their lower vsurfaces are all in the same plane so that they may "acy curately finish the concrete;

Near the rear of the machine is mounted. la secondary blade structure generally indicated `by reference numeral HU which comprisesA blades I and I2 which converge at their forward ends, being secured together at that point. The blade structure Htl is mounted -dependently from plate ||3 by means of a connecting link llll which is pivotally mounted on the` blade structure |,lll at f H5 and on the blade H3 at H6. The blades and l2 extend outwardly and `rearwardly to the same-lateral extension as the blades and 3l',

and are supported near their outer ends by means of links |'I which are pivotally mounted on the frame at points Hd and on the blades at Vpoints .l I9. The blades are connected by a cross channel Zil which has an eye bracket l 2| at its center for the reception of a cable |22 which is connected thereto.' upwardly and is fastened at its cthe-rend to a lever |23 mounted on bracket 524; the cable passing over a pulley |25 in the bracket. The lever e.- |23 is. adapted to be adjusted in any ordinary manner `as by means of a pin extending through a hole`l23 in it and any one of holes |26` in the bracket.

By means of this vstructure the `secondary blade l. structure Htl may be raised out of engagement A*with the surface of cement-concretebeing finished. 'This feature is desirable when the machine is'rnoved in a rearward direction. Additional channels rnay bepplacedinside `of channel |20 as desired forthe purpose of increasing the weight of theblade structure Htl.. The secondary blade structure il@ just described is for the purpose of providing a finish to the surface of the road and. merely rides of its 6G.'

own weight upon the cement-concrete.

For the purpose of keeping the concrete be` tween the side forms and for the purpose of cleaning and clearingthe side forms of any accumulation of dirt or concrete thereon, scraper elements 28 have been provided and are mounted on the side channels and l2 adjacent the wheels. These comprise a triangular scraper |29 which is mounted on the end of1 alever |36 pivotally mounted `on the side channels of the frame ofthe machine. 5

.In-Fig; 4 there is shown a modified form of y blade structure vcomprising blades 'ma and lill?Y and Stia and 8M which areusedin place of blade 18 and blades 8d and ill of the preferred form of the invention. The blades are Asuitably mounted 'Ihe cable E22 extends rearwardly andcrete.

on the blade supporting structure Sil v`at their inner ends by means rof bolts |32. A short blade |33 is pivotally mounted on the supporting structure by bolt |34.` This `short blade is adapted to be4 used to join theends of either pair of aligned blades to make in eifec't one continuous blade. Thus either of the aligned blades 18a, 78h or 86a,

tlc may be joined to form in eifect one continu ous blade. By this construction it is possible to control the working of' the excess concrete to either side of the machine. This feature is desirable where the machine is surfacing elevated or banked curves. A

`In the operation of the machine it is placed upon the side forms andi and drawn-by means `of suitable motive powerattached to it by the hawser 2l and the connecting means 2% or 2c. The wheel supports 35 are adjusted at 'the f proper height as shown in Fig. 2 and the blades are Aadjusted by means ofthe various -bolt supporting structures so that they are all in the same plane. 'lhe machine isthenready -to operate and is drawn forward. As the machine moves the roller 48 serves toslightly roll and level the clemente-concrete `being finished; It works the mortar up and the stones down. The blades, due to their position andplaceinent tend to work the nished and at the same time plane the concrete,

thus removing all irregularities inthe surf-ace.

When a point is reached in the road where the gradient of the road is'changed and if, for en `concrete back and forth across the stripy vbeing ample, the change is downward, the central,sup-I porting structure is raised by 'means of the handnuts 'lll in order to eliminate the possibility of the blades unduly scraping at the point .where 95 and 85. The reverse 'procedure is followed when there is an increase inthe gradientfoi the road. The scraper elements 52S serve to keep the side forms free of dirt so that the machine may proceed on a level `plane.k p i d After proceeding a desired ydist-ance the ma y the change in gradient occurs; the raising 'of this l structurefbeing effective to raise the inner ends jcf blades 86 and 81 and of the blade structure chine is then pulled back over the cement-conf crete over which it has justpassed. Before the l machine is pulled in the rearward direction, the

lever member |23 is actuated to raise the blade structure |`|ll out of engagement with the con- The machine may then be pulled forward and backward a desired number of times `to ccm'- machine of this invention is particularly accurate in finishing a road free of irregularities in its surface. l

By reason of the length of the machine, it being preferably 20 feet` orslightlymcre, and by reason of the fact that the machine rides upon level siderails, the blades, with theexception of the rear blade structure, planes the surface thus removing even the long` undulating irregularities which it was formerly impossible toremove. The

rear blade structure rides of its own weight upon the surface being finished and is principally designed to finish the surface.

Although the machine of this invention was primarily designed for use in finishing cement-- concrete roads, it is within the scope of this invention to use the machine in surfacing and resurfacing asphalt roads. It might also be used upon other materials Where a level surface is required and such changes as might be necessary to accommodate the machine for use in such capacities are within the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1,. In a cement-concrete nishing machine, a frame, wheels mounted on said frame, a blade supporting structure mounted on said frame, means for vertically adjusting said structure, a main blade dependently mounted on said frame near its ends and having its center supported by said blade supporting structure, said main blade being diagonally disposed relative to said frame, a .second blade dependently mounted on said frame at its outer end and having its inner end supported by said blade supporting structure, a third blade dependently mounted on said frame at its outer end and having its inner end supported by said blade supporting structure, said main blade and said second and third blades cooperating to form a compound troweling and scraping clement substantially X-shaped in plan view, all of said blades normally being in the same horizontal plane, said blades each having a fiat cement-concrete engaging face whereby said blades produce a troweling effect.

2. In a cement-concrete nishing machine, a frame,I wheels mounted on said frame, a-blade supporting structureA mounted on said frame substantially centrally thereof, means for vertically adjusting said structure, a main blade depend-'- ently mounted on said frame near its ends and having its center supported by said blade supporting structure, said main blade being diagonally disposed relative to said frame, a second blade dependently mounted on said frame at its outer end and having its inner end supported by said blade supporting structure, a third blade dependently mounted on said frame at its outer end and having its inner end` supported by said blade supporting structure, said main blade and 5a said second and third blades cooperating to form a compound trowelling and scraping element substantially X-shaped in plan view, a V-shaped element at each side or" said X-shaped element, each of said V-shaped elements comprising two :blades joined at the apex of the V and being supported at their inner ends by said blade supporting structure, said blades being dependently supported near their outer ends on said frame, all of said blades normally being in the same horizontal plane, said blades each having a flat cement-concrete engaging face whereby said blades produce a troweling effect.

3. In a cement-concrete nishing machine, a frame, wheel supporting means pivotally mount- 'f ed on said frame, wheels mounted on said wheel supporting means, means for adjusting said wheel supporting means whereby said frame may be raised or lowered, a blade supporting structure mounted on said frame, means for vertically adjusting said blade supporting structure, a main blade extending diagonally relative to said frame in a horizontal plane below said frame and having its center supported by said blade supporting structure, a blade mounted on each side of j said main blade spaced therefrom at their inner ends and mounted at their inner ends on said blade supporting structure, said main blade and said other blades forming an X-shaped troweling and scraping structure, and means for separately mounting each of the blades adjacent to their extremities on said frame, said blades each having a flat cement-concrete engaging face whereby said blades produce a troweling eiect.

4. In a cement-concrete nishing machine, a frame, wheel supporting means pivotally mounted on said frame, wheels mounted on said wheel supporting means, means for adjusting said wheel supporting means whereby said frame may be raised or lower-ed, a blade supporting structure mounted on said frame, means for vertically adjusting said blade supporting structure, a main blade extending diagonally relative to said frame in a horizontal'plane below said frame and having its center supported by said blade supporting structure, a second blade having its inner end supported by said blade supporting structure, a third blade having its inner end supported by said blade supporting structure disposed on the side of said main blade opposite to said second blade and being in alignment with said second blade, the inner ends of said second and third blades being spaced from said main blade, means for separately mounting each of the blades adjacent to their outer ends on said frame, said above-mentioned blades cooperating to form an X-shaped troweling and scraping element, a V-shaped member between said main blade and said second blade and having its apex supported by said blade supporting structure, said member comprising two blades, a second V-shaped member between said main blade and said third blade and having its apex supported by said blade supporting structure, said second member comprising two blades, and means for separately mounting each of the blades adjacent to their outer ends on said frame, said blades each having a flat cement-concrete engaging face whereby said blades produce a trowelingeiect.

5. In a cement-concrete nishing machine, a frame, wheel supporting means pivotally mounted on said frame, wheels mounted on said wheel supporting means, means for adjusting said wheel supporting means whereby said frame may' be raised or lowered, a blade supporting structure mounted on said frame, means for vertically adjusting said blade supporting structure, a main blade extending diagonally relative to said frame in a horizontal ,plane below said frame and having its center supported by said blade supporting structure, a second blade having its inner end supported by said blade supporting structure, a third blade having its inner end supported by said'blade supporting structure disposed on the side of said main blade opposite to said second blade and being in alignment with said second blade, the inner ends of said second and third blades being spaced from said main blade, said above-mentioned blades cooperating to form an X-shaped troweling and scraping element, means for separately mounting each of the blades adjacent to their extremities on said frame, a V- shaped member between said main blade and said second blade and having its apex supported by said blade supporting structure, said member comprising two blades, a second V-shaped member between said main blade and said third blade and having its apex supportedby said blade suping two blades, means for separately mounting each of the blades adjacent to their outer ends 75! mounted rearwardly of said bladel supporting structure mounted on said frame, comprising two blades, and means for vertically adjusting said third V-shaped member, said blades eachhaving a iiat cement-concrete engaging face whereby said blades produce a trowelng effect.

y 6. In a cement-concrete finishing machine, wheel supporting means pivotally mounted on said frame, wheels mounted on said supporting means, `means for adjusting said Wheel supporting meansvwhereby said frame may be raised or lowered, a supporting structure mounted on said frame 'for vertical adjustment, an X-shaped member supported adjacent `its ends on said frame and supported at its middle on said blade s supporting structure, a V-shaped ymember mounted onjeach side of said X-shaped member and having their apexes supported by said blade supporting structure and having their outer ends adjustably supportedfby said frame, and a third V-shaped member mounted on said frame behind said X-shaped member. l l Y 7. For use in a `cement-concrete road finishing to` form in eiect a continuous blade'ofthe joined n n n n blades. A. n

HARRY D. JOHNSON.

- machine, a trowelng and scraping element com- 

